Combination metal and nonmetal drawer



y 18, 1954 E. E. MERRETT 2,678,866

COMBINATION METAL AND NONMETAL DRAWER Filed July 21, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' M y 18, 4 E. E. MERRETT 2,678,866

COMBINATION METAL AND NONMETAL DRAWER Filed July 21, 1949 2 s hee ts sheet 2 L I I fll 7 INVENTOR. 22/1,- .ZT/Vrrcz'zi /4' 74' BY J E -M 6% 5-1 wry/70 7 Patented May 18, 1954 @FEI GOMBI-NATION*METAL Ann-Newman- Earle E.,;Merrett, Manitowoawi's;

Applicat-ionaJ lily- 21; 194

ZsOIaimm; (Cl.

mzentionrelates to-improvements -a on-metal constructions; and par-'7 etal' lands non-metal drawer :con

'THIeinresent-i tmmetai and n ticularly'rtozm structions:

One of the: primary objects of "the present inventionrisr'to provide simplified constructions whereby: metal. and non-metal par-tsmay be readily connected togetherz Aafurther objectof the-presentinventionisto" provide improvements indrawer constructions 'in-' which parts 5 of the drawer are constructed or metal and otherparts :of nommetalmaterial; so thattwhen the :drawers are mountedin a cabinet they havethe external appearance of wood, and yeti: the inside: has the economy, efliciencyy strength: and utilitT-ofmetal;

Aiurther obj eat --of the invention is to provide improvements iii-dr awer= constructions of the type mentionedinwhich the tininess present-rim metal drawer constructions is eliminated and yet? the" drawer may *be -smoothly--operatedin" any climate;

A further-obj e'ct of th improvements in drathe drawer is so "cons e" invention is "to "provi de wer constructions lIT'WhiCh tructedand mounted in the cabinet that 'dustor dirt-does notdrlop fromr'one drawer compartment to the nextr' Other objects ofthe inventiom will become; apparent from the-"following specification; the drawings relating-"thereto; and-'from-the claims hereinafterset fort-h:

In' the drawings? in wh'i usedto designate -likethroughout? Figure 1 isa perspective metal and non metaldrawer-"construction em: bodying feat ures of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is. a broken; side elfivational view otth'e drawer shown in Figrl;

Fig: 3 -'isiaipartial, broken; .t drawer shown;.:in -Fi'g; 1

Fig:"4 isia-broken; cross-:- substantia-lly -along7the line Figr5isatperspective vie sides;

Fig: 6 *is-"apartial; broken: vertical cross-sec tional 'viewof-a cabinet, andshowingthe manner in which" the dra'wers are mounted "therein;

Figs 7 is a' horizontal cross-sectionalview through a "drawer cabinet; and showing a -drawei injiplace mounted therein; I

Fig: 8.; is *a brokenycrosmseetional viewg 'taken substantiallyialong the -linet-" -fl of Fig; '7

Fi'g;::9i3is afiview similar" to Fiss '7;"1showing+ anothenmodifiediform of-the present inventions ch like-numerals are; partsth'e "several 'vie'ws 'view'of-a combination.

op'iplan 'viewrof the;

sectionalwiew; taken; 4-4 of Fig: 3;-

w of one of the drawer ,a front-ijsidest and 43a- ,ticall the front 12 'Which is rec 9, Serial No:--106;000="-- Fig-3' 10 is?awbrokenwcross=sectional view, taken: substantially elong th'e line: I Ell-U Of 'FigrQ'i Fig; 1 1 is ;a"topplan view rotta-boat embodying? featuresof the present invention;

Fig: 12"is a-ibroken:cross sectional View: taken: substantially along-the :li'ne l 2-- I 2 of Fit-i111: and" Figs13 fist a view similar to Fig; 6: illustrating a modified form of the presentinvention.

In general; it is pointed out. :that-L'inrwooden drawer constructions trouble --has #138811 encoun=- tered due to the cellular-constructions of th'e' WOOd. which absorbs =moisture :the summertimeso that the drawersstickb Metal drawers havebeen found'to be un'satisfactory because of the" tininess inherent in: th'eif use', and ubecaiise ot" their unorthodox external" appearance" The present invention is -directed-to the utilization oft the best features of both wood andmetal drawers; and "at the same-time eliminates "the -difii'eulties inherent in them.

Referring to the drawings, and -"referring pare ticularly to =Figs: 1-6;" a drawer construction embodying features of the? present invention is: generally indicated at-1!. such drawer comprises back' fi' and a bottom 6. Thesides: :3 and 4 are constructed of -sheet*metal; and the front 2, back 5 and bottomt are =con=- structed of non-metallicmaterials; such as solid Wood? plywood; or-a composition material 'such vas Masonite.

Th'e sids 3 and-4 are -of identical construction" sothat theyi maybe reversed idr'use' on either side'; Thesides 3 and-i 3 are each formed of sheet metal having ani inwardly' directed channel I formedalo'ng -'-thebottom-edgethereof whichdefines; an outwardly directed drawer run which: is edefinedbyv the stop and-*laottomflanges of the channel I.andstheinterconnectingvertis calrwallithereoiu. The .drawemsiderafizextends were omithejnner edgaofathe :upp erzchannel l flange; n-dsterminatesiin .anveutwardly directed? flange at 8 and a sdownwardly directed. flange- 1 2a The bottom;thannel and the -upper;-fianges.-.lserve -w totstrengthen andustifienathe drawer-sides: In -r,- wardly directed .tabs I 3 1 and .24 arev punchedsout oft. the rmetalusides. 9 .tadjacentsthe top thereot and, spaced inwardly from the front. and. rear edges thereof a. distance substantially equalutm the thickness of the "back" 5' and that portion ,of v

eived between (the walls 3 and' tf The-:sideedges of thenommetal bottom Giare: snugly*reeeivedwithin'fthexohannelf'l *of the sides? 3 and 4: so asto -'mo1int-the bottom. to'the 'drawe sides.-

The drawer front 2 is formed with an inwardly directed, reduced portion 15 so that the bottom edge rests upon the adjacent forward surface of the bottom 6, and the sides thereof abut against the adjacent vertical surfaces of the sides 3 and 4 at the forward edges thereof. The thickness of the inwardly projecting portion is such that the inner face thereof abuts against the adjacent faces of inwardly struck tabs [3 of the sides 3 and 4. The exposed face of the drawer 2 is such that the bottom edge thereof is fiush with the bottom of member 6 and the side edges thereof are flush with the outer surface of channel 1 and the outer surface of flange 12. The bottom 8 is connected to the front 2 by a fastener such as a screw or nail It. The tabs i3 and [4 are each provided with openings therethrough, and the tab !3 is connected to the inner face of front 2 by a fastener such as a screw or nail I! at each side thereof. Other fasteners, such as nails, or screws, may be connected to the vertical sides of the inner projecting portion l5 of the front 2 through spaced opening l3 provided in the-sides 3 and 4 adjacent the front edges thereof. Similar openings 59 are pro.- vided adjacent the rear edges of the sides 3 and 4 for the reception of fasteners to be connected to the rear member 5,

The rear wall 5 rests upon the rear edge of the bottom 6 and is disposed between the sides 3 and 4 against the rear tabs I4. The bottom may be connected to the back by means of fasteners 20, and the back 5 is connected to the tabs !4 at each of the sides by fasteners 2! which pass through openings in the rear tabs 4. The rear wall 5 may be further connected to the sides 3 and 4 by fasteners 22, which pass through the openings 19.

The tabs l3 and I l serve the important func tion of preventing the drawer from spreading so that the drawer will not bind in the cabinet.

The front 2 is provided with an upwardly projecting lip 23 along the top edge thereof so that a portion of the lip may be planed off to accommodate the drawers to the climate in which they are used, and thus prevent binding of the drawers at the front;

The flange it on drawer sides 3 and 4 is provided with openings 24 therethrough adjacent the front and rear edges thereof, and, depending upon which side of the drawer the side is used on, a rubber grommet 25 is placed in the rear opening 24. This provides a bearing surface against the drawer slide, immediately above, so that a bearing surface will be provided and thus the drawer will not tilt. This acts as a friction stop to keep the drawer from falling out when it is three-quarters pulled.

In Fig. 6, a portion of the vertical side wall of the cabinet is indicated at 26, it being understood that the sides are the same at both sides. Drawer slides 21 arepr'ovided for each of the drawers onopposit'e sides of the cabinet, and at vertically spaced positions thereon. Such slides 21 are metal, channel-shaped members which are fastened to the cabinet walls by means of suitable screw fasteners 28 which are passed through openings therein at spaced points there along. A rubber bumper may be provided at the back end of the channels which may be bent inwardly to receive the bumper. A fibre member 29, which is complementary in shape to the channel 21, is cemented thereto and slidably re ceives therein the channel-shaped runs 8 on the drawer sides so that there is no metal-againstmetal contact.

Referring to Figs. '7 and 8, a modified form of the invention is shown in which the sides of the cabinet 26 are illustrated, as well as the rear wall 30. In this modification, the construction is such that the drawer compartments are sealed from each other completely around the sides and back of the drawer when the drawer is in its closed position. This is effected by continuing the channel run 21 around the back as well as the sides, as indicated at 3!. The channel 3| is of the same construction as channel 30 and is provided with the fibre liner. The drawer bottom 6 is extended to project beyond the back 5, as indicated at 32. Projecting portion 32 extends completely across the back so that when the drawer is in its closed position the projecting portion is received within the channel formed by member 3i and the liner 29. The sides 3 and 4 have the runs 8 formed along the bottom thereof which are received within the side channels 2'! so that one drawer space is sealed from the next drawer space.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the same sealing effect as in the embodiments shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is accomplished. However, in this embodiment the back 33 is formed in continuation of the metal sides 3 and 4, and is of the same cross-section, as will be evident by a comparison of Figs. 10 and 4. This is accomplished by notching the corners, as indicated at 34, and

bending the metal strip to form the sides 3, the

back 33, and the side 4. The bottom 6 is then received within the rear channel i, which is the same as channel 'i in the embodiment above described. The bottom 6 projects beyond the back 33 and is received within the channel 7 in the same way as the sides and bottom are received within channel 1. The side channels i are then received within the channels 21, and the channel 1' is received within the channel 3| along the back. Thus, the drawer compartments are sealed from each other in the same way as the embodiments shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, a structure of the present invention is illustrated as adapted for boat construction. The sides of the boat, as indicated at 4, have the same vertical section as the drawer sides 4. The bottom 6 is shaped to conform to the shape of a boat, with a back 5' mounted thereto and connected to the adjacent ends of the metal sides 4' in the same way that the back 5 is connected to the sides 3 and 4 in the embodiment described above. In other words, the sides 4 are provided with in-struck tabs M which are connected to the back 5' in the same manner as tabs [4 to the back 5 in the embodiment above described. The side edges of bottom 6' are received within the channel 1 in the same way that the sides of bottom 6 are received in channel I in the embodiment described above. The vertical juncture line of the sides 4, as indicated at 35, may be brought together and welded. The sides 4" are metal, and the bottom 6' and back 5' are of non-metal material.

Referring to Fig. 13, a modified form of drawer construction is illustrated. In this construction the drawer is slidably mounted in the drawer slides 21 by means of longitudinally extending channel members 48 which are formed with outwardly disposed flanges 4i and spot welded to the sides 4 midway between the top and bottom edges thereof. There is, of course, a channel member 40 similarly mounted on both sides of the drawer.

The channels 2? are then locked in proper spaced relationship so that the drawers are slidably supported by the mounted channels 40. Such channels extend the full depth of the drawer.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A drawer construction comprising nonmetallic front, back and bottom members and metallic side members, each of said side members being formed with an outwardly projecting U- shaped flange defining a drawer run and forming an inwardly directed channel along the bottom edge thereof and receiving within said channel the adjacent edge of said non-metallic bottom member, an outwardly and downwardly projecting flange formed on the top edge of each of said side members and having a rubber grommet on the top thereof adjacent the rear thereof inwardly directed tabs formed on said side members adjacent the top thereof and adjacent the inside surfaces of said front and back members in engagement therewith, means connecting said tabs to said front and back members, and means connecting said bottom member to said front and back members.

2. A drawer construction comprising a back member, non-metallic front and bottom members, and metallic side members, each of said side members being formed with an outwardly projecting U-shaped flange defining a drawer run and forming an inwardly directed channel along the bottom edge thereof and receiving within said channel the adjacent edge of said nonmetallic bottom member, an outwardly and downwardly projecting flange formed on the top edge of each of said side members and having a rubber grommet on the top thereof adjacent the rear thereof an inwardly directed tab formed on each of said side members adjacent the top thereof and adjacent the inside surface of said front member, means connecting said tabs to said front member, and means connecting said bottom member to said front and back members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 919,682 Bertram Apr. 27, 1909 948,378 Prouty Feb, 8, 1910 972,449 Heller Oct. 11, 1910 1,015,454 Mueller Jan. 23, 1912 1,686,194 Wheary Oct. 2, 1923 1,876,557 Bodenstein Sept. 13, 1932 1,944,477 Tillotson Jan. 23, 1934 2,376,570 Berger May 22, 1945 

